Substandard material used in school construction in J'K's Poonch, inquiry ordered

Taking serious note of a complaint alleging use of substandard material in the construction of a school building near the LoC, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district have ordered an inquiry into the matter, a senior official said today.

Over 300 students belonging to villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Mendhar sector are enrolled with the Dharana High School.

The school was upgraded from a middle school in 2011 at a cost of Rs 58 lakh under the centrally sponsored Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) scheme by the Roads and Buildings department.

The inquiry was ordered after the school administration intimated that the contractor had used substandard material for the construction of a building in the school, rendering it unsafe for putting into use for the students, the official said.

Taking cognisance of the complaint, District Development Commissioner, Poonch, Mohammad Aijaz Asad ordered the inquiry and constituted a four-member committee, he said.

The committee, which will be headed by the additional district development commissioner of Poonch, has been directed to submit its report within one week.

Quoting from the complaint, the official said it was alleged that substandard material was used in the construction of the school building, which is prone to shelling from across the LoC.

"Only six rooms have been constructed instead of sanctioned eight rooms. The constructed rooms are also without doors and windows making these not worthy of use for students, according to the complaint.

The official said keeping in view the seriousness of the complaint and plight of more than 300 students studying in the school, the deputy commissioner ordered the inquiry before initiating further legal action.

"As a matter of procedure, a preliminary enquiry is required before taking any action under the law, the official said.

He said the district administration was taking strict measures to ensure quality control and monitoring of other under-construction government buildings.